HELP! Nervous for the NICU

Specialties NICU

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Hello All,

I am a brand new Nursing Grad and I was placed in the NICU for my Capstone (last step). At most Nursing schools around here you do NOT have your RN while doing Capstone, and my college is the only one in the state that requires you to have your Registered Nursing License prior to completing your Capstone.

My original choice was to be placed on a Cardiac Unit as I fell in love with that during the course of my college education. L+D was my second choice; also a passion of mine. All of these placements were full, so I was offered a spot on a NICU floor. I wasn't even aware this was an option for us because of its high acuity but gladly accepted the placement!

Here's the part that has me panicking... During ONE semester we covered both OB and Pedi, split equally. During the OB portion of the semester we floated ONLY ONE SINGLE DAY for observation in the NICU and barely even got out feet wet in lecture, so I feel as though I am traveling to a foreign land and because of the intense nature of this unit I am excited, but slightly terrified.

I am a hard worker and a fast learner, but I want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row before I start this new venture. I have ordered a NICU Survival card for my badge and a Handbook on Neonatal Nursing, but a different one than everyone keeps referencing.

Do you have any advice or reference materials that might be helpful for me? Because I will be practicing under my own license with very little orientation/training, I need to be prepared.

THANK YOU!!!

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I don't know if they require you to do your NRP, but I'd recommend atleast reading the textbook before you start and then getting certified while you're there. I'd say focus your beginning preparation on newborn assessment, knowing what a normal healthy term baby should look and act like, then figuring out the variations you will see in prems. Read up on developmental care as well as this is pretty key in the NICU, you will be able to find lots of great articles on this topic. Those big neonatal nursing textbooks may be a bit overwhelming when you haven't been on the unit yet, at the end of each set write down things that you saw and want to know more about. Also definitely request a shift with the lactation consultant on your unit and learn as much as you can about breastfeeding.

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Oh also getting a handle on the main complications of prematurity, you will be find a lot about these in your handbook. (ie. NEC, IVH, BPD, ROP)

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